When torrential rains and wind topple a tree into a power line, restoring electrical service to customers can be a complicated task. But one Southern California Edison power pole replacement job last week was much more intricate than usual.

In a hilly, tree-filled, densely populated South Pasadena residential neighborhood, SCE crews and contractors displayed remarkable teamwork involving helicopters, ground personnel and planners to restore service to 19 homes while upgrading their portion of the electric grid.

Morgan Myers, an SCE production specialist with Monrovia District Operations, surveyed the gathering of equipment, hardware and workers as the job was about to begin.

“Due to the recent storms, we had a tree come down on our power line, and it snapped a pole. We’re going to replace it and a second pole by helicopter,” Myers said. “Then we’re going to reconnect two spans of primary wire with coated electrical wire.”

Time was critical. The homes in the neighborhood had been operating on three SCE-provided generators parked in driveways for nearly a week. Streets in the neighborhood are barely wide enough for two cars to pass, so maneuvering a bucket truck into position is impractical.

“We’re in this densely populated, congested area with all these homes, so there’s actually no access to the poles other than to utilize a helicopter,” said Brooke Austin, a technician in SCE Aircraft Operations.

Austin’s job was to coordinate everything the helicopter team would do, including filing a flight and operations plan with the Federal Aviation Administration and notifying city officials, police and fire in case of an emergency. Perhaps the most daunting task was persuading residents of the 19 homes to evacuate their neighborhood for several hours for their own safety.

“We have people on generators, so they’re eager to have their power reconnected. Maybe they’re upset or have questions, and we understand that,” Austin said. “Our job is to come in and explain the process and make sure everybody is at ease.”

Ground crews went door-to-door to the 19 homes to ensure they were vacant before the restoration work started. If anyone refused to leave, the entire operation would be in jeopardy.

“There was a lot of positive feedback and understanding. We did get everybody to cooperate and leave today, so we can get this done,” Austin said.

After a tailboard meeting to clarify roles, procedures and safety precautions, it’s time to get to work. On the ground ready to be hoisted into place: a new 45-foot composite power pole to replace the wood pole snapped during the storm, another 40-foot composite pole to replace a different wood pole that needed upgrading, a new 600-pound transformer, 100-foot spans of coated electrical wire, and giant bags of gravel to secure the new poles.

In the air: an SCE Air Operations helicopter quipped with a long line and a remotely operated hook.

“We’re going to first fly all the debris from the backyard of the home where the poles fell to the street to make the area as safe and clean as possible,” Myers said. “Then we’re going to bring the gravel bags to the two locations, followed by the two poles and the transformer.”

Watching the process from a safe distance, you still feel the powerful downdraft of the chopper. But it’s nothing compared to what the crews on the hillside endure as they guide the composite metal poles dangling from the helicopter into pre-dug holes.

“Multiple crew members grab the rope and stabilize the pole, so it comes down controllably,” Myers said. “Once it hits the bottom of the hole, they call to the pilot to release the line.”

The entire helicopter operation is completed in under an hour, feeling much like a noisy, well-choreographed ballet. Gravel fills the holes to hold the poles in place, and the next day, the new covered conductor lines are re-energized, and more resilient electrical service is restored to the neighborhood.

“Success is when we have a job well done,” Austin said. “Everyone performed their job functions safely, we got it done in a timely manner, and the customers are happy."

With atmospheric rivers forecast to bring in more rain and snow to SCE's service area this weekend and potentially next week, crews are mobilizing to be ready to respond quickly and safely to any additional weather-related power outages.